-* Horse Racing in England 



his patronage to other race courses besides Newmarket. 

 He gave a silver cup of the value of lOo guineas, instead 

 of the usual bells, to be raced for in Hyde Park, and 

 would appear to have instituted a royal plate, and to have 

 kept a stud at Newmarket, while at Stamford and Epsom, 

 race meetings were evidently well established. 



During the Civil Wars racing languished, and was 

 practically prohibited by the Protector ; however, with the 

 Restoration new life was given to the " Sport of Kings," 

 and it is from the reign of Charles H. that the history of 

 the Turf may be said to have begun. 



The King instituted two meetings — spring and autumn — 

 at Newmarket, and so far entered into the sport that he 

 rebuilt the mansion that James I. had used there, and also 

 rode in person in several races. These races were nearly 

 all matches, and were usually ridden by the owners — 

 gentlemen in the King's suite. Thus the royal rider had 

 as competitors the Duke of Monmouth, Mr. Elliott (of 

 the Bedchamber), and Mr. Thynne, an ancestor, no doubt, 

 of the modern Marquises of Bath. 



Charles II. 's reign, then, may be taken as the beginning 

 of horse racing in England, and so long as " Rowley's Mile " 

 remains a course at Newmarket, so long will the Merry 

 Monarch's name be remembered in connection with racing. 



The advancement that had begun with the Restoration 

 was continued under James II., although the King was 

 far too occupied, and his reign was too short and troublous 

 for him to indulge his fancies on the Turf 



On the accession of William III. horse racing and 

 horse breeding were firmly established, and the King took 

 great interest in every department of the sport, instituting 



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